Vp Controller Jobs in Vermont (NOW HIRING)

Mission: We shape timeless and functional designs from simple, natural materials to elevate everyday life.

Vision: To celebrate the beauty of objects with real, authentic character.

Values: Dignity & Respect | Ownership & Initiative | Commitment to Quality & Craft | Learning & Growth Together

Position Summary:

This position is the senior-most financial role at Simon Pearce US, responsible for leading the accounting and finance organization and taking direct responsibility for the company’s financial results. Reporting to the CEO, this role manages two on-site accounting/finance employees and an outsourced accounting vendor to ensure accurate, timely financial information across the business.

This role also serves as the company’s primary financial liaison to its investors and lenders — including its private-equity-backed majority investor — and leads the annual audit in partnership with an outside audit firm. 

Simon Pearce is a growth-oriented business, and this role is central to building the financial foundation — people, process, and technology — needed to support that growth, including a strong partnership with operations and commercial leadership and a mandate to modernize finance through AI and automation.

Simon Pearce offers competitive pay and a benefit package that includes: medical, dental, and vision coverage, employer paid life & disability, paid time off, flexible holiday time, 401k retirement plan with employer match, and tuition reimbursement assistance.  Additionally, we offer exclusive employee discounts on both our glass and pottery products and at our restaurant.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Owns the financial results of Simon Pearce US, ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of all financial reporting.
• Manages two on-site accounting employees and oversees the relationship with an outsourced accounting vendor, ensuring a reliable, well-controlled monthly close and reporting cadence.
• Prepares and presents the monthly MD&A, covering financial performance, key variances, and business drivers for leadership.
• Leads the annual budgeting process and ongoing forecasting, partnering with department leaders across the organization to support the company’s growth plans.
• Acts as a true business partner to operations and commercial/retail leaders — not just reporting the numbers but proactively bringing financial insight and analysis that helps those teams run their businesses better and make sharper decisions.
• Leads NetSuite usage within accounting ensuring the system is configured and used effectively to support accurate, timely financial reporting 
• Continuously identifies and implements process improvements, automation, and AI tools to increase the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of finance and accounting operations.
• Maintains and strengthens internal controls; ensures compliance with GAAP and other applicable reporting requirements.
• Monitors cash position and working capital and manages lender reporting and covenant compliance to maintain a well-managed, appropriately leveraged capital structure.
• Serves as the primary financial liaison to Simon Pearce’s investors, including its private-equity-backed majority investor, providing regular financial reporting, analysis, and responses to investor requests.
• Leads the annual audit in partnership with the outside audit firm, managing the process end-to-end from planning through completion.
• Manages relationships with tax advisors, banks, lenders, and other third parties as needed.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications Required:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive accounting/finance experience, including experience leading a finance or accounting team.
• Hands-on experience with a company-wide ERP and accounting system is paramount.
• Experience managing outsourced accounting/finance functions or vendor relationships.
• Demonstrated track record of driving process improvement and adopting new technology — including AI tools — within a finance organization.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate financial data into clear insight for non-finance leaders.
• Experience with lender reporting, debt covenant compliance, and operating within a leveraged capital structure.

Qualifications Desired:

• Direct experience with NetSuite.
• Experience in retail, consumer products, or manufacturing is a plus.
• Experience working with private equity investors and leading external audits is strongly preferred.

Success Factor / Job Competencies:

• Constantly looking for ways to leverage technology and AI to improve finance processes, rather than accepting the status quo.
• Highly analytical and detail-oriented while maintaining a clear view of the big picture.
• Passionate about developing direct reports and skilled at providing constructive feedback.
• Sets the example of integrity and trust.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Credible with internal stakeholders and external audiences, including investors, lenders, and auditors.
• Comfortable meeting with/presenting to executives and the company’s investors.
• Solid analytical, problem identification, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing outside vendors and consultants, with strong negotiation skills.
• Ability to maintain a demanding schedule in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.  The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Simon Pearce is committed to the policy of equal employment opportunity and to provide all employees with the work environment necessary to enable them to advance on merit as far as their talents and skills will take them, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, status as a protected class of veteran, or any other legally protected status.